Baby scans for every stage of your pregnancy

1. Baby scans for every stage of your pregnancy When you choose to go down the private route for antenatal pregnancy scans it makes good sense to choose a company that offers the full range of antenatal scans for every stage of your baby's growth and development. Even if you're just choosing to have one scan done privately initially, it's reassuring to know that all the other options - and the corresponding medical expertise needed to interpret them - are available should you choose to request them. Ultrasound Direct is the UK's leading provider of private antenatal ultrasound scans and offers a total of 14 different antenatal diagnostic scans, including early pregnancy scans, nuchal scans, anomaly scans and late presentation scans, as well as fertility scans using the latest 3D and 4D scanning technology. Pre-pregnancy scans Some women opt to have a pelvic scan before they try to conceive just to check their fallopian tubes and uterus are all in working order and there are no structural issues which could cause fertility problems. Ultrasound Direct's pelvic scan can be used to evaluate the time of ovulation (when your egg is released) and for measuring egg follicles and endometrial thickening for assisted conception/IVF in the UK or abroad. Early pregnancy scans The early weeks of pregnancy are exciting, but can also sometimes be a worrying time because of the risk of miscarriage. Ultrasound Direct offer a number of diagnostic scans in those important early weeks which can provide you with the information and - in most cases - reassurance you need. These include: Early scan: This 30 minute scan is offered at 7 to 11 weeks and the primary purpose is to find out if your pregnancy is viable and measuring correctly for your dates. Dating Scan: Performed at between 10 and 16 weeks, this 20-minute scan is also referred to as a 12-week scan or booking scan. Its main purpose is to date your pregnancy by measuring your baby's size and find out how many babies you're expecting. From 12 weeks we can use the latest 4DFREEVIEW™ technology to give you a 3D moving picture of your baby. With a 4DFREEVIEW™ pregnancy scan you'll get to see your baby's internal organs -including their heart beating, and a checklist of other signs indicating their wellbeing will be completed. Nuchal Translucency Scan: Ultrasound Direct offer a Babybond Nuchal Translucency (NT) Scan (also called a nuchal scan) at between 11 and 13 weeks and 6 days gestation. This is a screening test using ultrasound to measure fluid at the back of your baby's neck (this area is called the nuchal fold). If a baby has extra fluid at this point - it's a marker for an extra chromosome and they may have Down's syndrome and you'll be counselled to see if you want further diagnostic tests to find out for sure.

2.  NIPT scan: This test combines a non invasive pre natal blood screening test for Down's syndrome (called Harmony) with a 30 minute diagnostic scan to check viability and dates. It's performed between 10 and 22 weeks. Second trimester scans There are a number of scans available in the middle trimester of your pregnancy between 12 and 24 weeks. These scans are more detailed and can tell you important things about your baby's growth and development, as well as identify their sex and any structural abnormalities in internal organs. Many of these scans use the latest 4DFREEVIEW™ ultrasound technology. Scans available at this stage of pregnancy include: Anomaly scan: This 40 minute scan is performed between 19 and 24 weeks and measures your baby's growth and checks your baby's internal organs and is probably the most important scan you'll have in pregnancy. The scan includes complimentary sexing of your baby (but only if you want to find out!).  4D Bonding Scan: There are various types of bonding scan available from 20 weeks. Other important second trimester scans include the Babybond Gender Scan at between 16 and 23 weeks and the JustGender™ scan at 18 to 30 weeks. Third trimester scans The primary medical purpose of these scans is to check on your baby's growth, wellbeing and presentation. Ultrasound Direct offer: Growth scans: These are scans to measure your baby's growth and are offered between 24 to 34 weeks and can estimate fetal weight too. Presentation scans: Performed from 35 weeks onwards, these scans are to find out if your baby and placenta are in the right positions for birth. For a complete list of all scans offered pre and during pregnancy by Ultrasound Direct please click here.